Shopsmith Forums

Has anyone ever retensioned the idler drum so the tension knob works correctly? I picked up a used one as part of a CL deal and it seems intact, nothing seems broken. (Needs some cleaning) However the tension knob does not seem to work as described in the manual. I am hoping it is just a matter of retensioning it. I do not want to start pulling roll pins to disassemble and diagnose.

Truth: I am dealing with a Shopsmith knockoff beltsander from Taiwan, but it functions identical as far as I can tell and the parts may even be interchangeable. I do not want to put the interchangeability to the test if I can avoid it.

Duckman

When you push in on the latch , does it try to rotate? If not the first step is completed.(assuming the spring is not broken)

Now it is intuitively not obvious that rotating in the direction of the arrow that is identified as 'release' will reset the tension, but that IS the case.

You must prevent the roller from turning as you rotate the knob 4 clicks.

When the release is 'out'(clicked) there is no tension.

After a belt is installed, pushing in on the latch will cause tensioning to occur.

From that point you should not have to retension again unless you inadvertently lose it.

Rotate the knob until it clicks(in the direction of the arrow) to change belt. Once belt is installed push in the latch and the belt will become tensioned.